Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-07
moNDAY, NOVEMBER I, 1887.
win Gevernor oglesby Interfere,

VIII Governor OgieSDy AmseHAeo
Friday is the day set for the execu-
tion of the seven men condemned for
the killing of several policemen in a
struggle between the officers OF the
law and the populace. at the Haymar-
ket, Chicago, on the 10th day OF May,
1885. They will then hang, unless
Governor Oglesby, Of Illinois, inter-
feres to commute their sentence. Will
he interfere? There is strong news
paper clamor for the execution of the
law. There is a less loud, but a pretty
strong effort being made from private
sources to induce the Governor to in
terfere. His position is one OF unusual
responsibility. He has four more days
in which to bear this strain and to
take counsel as to what he should do.
Mr.. Oglesby is man Of decidedchar-
acter, and whatever he does will be
thoroughly considered, and honestly
arrived at. Those who beg for mercy
base their claims on the ground that
the State did not produce sufficient
proof that these men actually threw the
bomb which caused the death of the
policemen. Many intelligent persons
who have followed every word Of the
testimony hold that conviction was
not carried to their minds that these
Sc ven men, or any of them, are guilty
of actual murder. Those who demand
the blood of these victims dwell upon
the unlawful character of their utter
ances at the Haymarket meeting, at
the infammatory tone of their
speeches, and the danger in which
such wild harangues always place So
ciety. The hardened demeanor ex-
hibited by the condemned men,
their proclamation that they
would not accept reprieve, or
. communication OF their sentence, in
which they are seconded by their
fellows all over the country, have been
patent influences in creating this
strong feeling against them and their
course. But in this the condemned
men have weakened. They now sue
for mercy, and plead their innocence
of the actual deed as reason for Glenn
cncy. This change OF front will work
q rapid and widespread change of
feeling in their behalf. Day by day
this change Of public opinion will
gain head. We are merely chroni-
cling facts in this article; and as an
obvious result of such facts, have no
hesitation in saying that none of us
need be greatly surprised if we hear
that Governor Oglesby will exercise
his prerogative, and in some shape
spare most, or all, of the seven con-
demned Anarchists.
Since the above was placed in type,
the wires have brought us the particu-
lars of discovery which may work
seriously to the disadvantage Of the con-
demned men in the mind Of Governor
Oglesby. A box, containing six sus-
picious machines was found yesterday
morning in Lingg's cell. They are
believed to be dynamite bombs, but
that fact is yet to be ascertained by
expert investigation. If these sus-
picious machines have been conveyed
to the Anarchists by their friends, the
purpose is obvious, and the effect
upon the public will be to withdraw
the sympathy in their favor which
was growing apace in the public mind.
1t seems strange, however, that
a box could have been got
surreptitiously into the cell of
one of the Anarchists in spite
of such police precautions as We are
warranted in supposing have been
exercised in the guarding OF these inn
portant prisoners. The full elucida-
tion of this point is Of great moment
at this particular time. If the bombs
we're placed there by hostile hands
the chances of the condemned men to
escape capital punishment will be
increased; if otherwise, the fact will
greatly initiate against them.